🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <363AB512.19DC5893@james-harvey-stout.com>,
  James Harvey Stout <james@james-harvey-stout.com> wrote:
> newhov@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> > In article <36277e29.18457365@news.kuleuven.ac.be>,
> >   wim.vannieuwenhoven@student.kuleuven.ac.be (Wim Van Nieuwenhoven) wrote:
> > > Thanks for all the reactions I got on my question:
> > >
> > > "What is language, its purpose, its origin?"
> >
> >   Language is a special type of social behavior designed to influence others'
> > behavior as well as our own nonverbal behavior.  See B. F. Skinner's "Verbal
> > Behavior."
>
> I think that the definition has a few problems:
> The word "designed" implies _intent_. But, for example, sometimes we aren't even
> _aware_ of our _body_ language, so it couldn't be expressing any intent (at least
> not a _conscious_ intent).

  Good point.  Take out "designed," but retain the notion of influencing
others' behavior, whether "intentionally" or not.

> The idea of "influencing others' behavior" is rather weak. When I say, "Hello," I
> am not trying to influence the other person, except to respond with "Hello."

  That IS an influence.  Not a big, earth-shattering influence (like yelling
"Fire!" in a crowded theater), but an "influence" all the same, i.e., part of
the stimulus package that resulted in the other person's saying "hello" back.

--Newhov

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